Vehicle door latch device and associated vehicle door

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle door latch (1) comprising:-an engagement mechanism (3) configured for engagement with a striker,-an electrical release mechanism (13) comprising an electrical release motor (15) having an output shaft (15a) and a worm (17) arranged on the output shaft (15a), the worm (17) being configured for meshing with a gear (19), the gear (19) is configured to actuate the engagement mechanism (3) from a closed position, in which the striker is held by the engagement mechanism (3), and an open position, in which the striker is released, in which the door latch (1) comprises an additional electrical release mechanism (23) comprising an additional electrical release motor (25), in which the gear (19) is configured to actuate the engagement mechanism (3) from a closed position, in which the striker is held by the engagement mechanism (3), and an open position, in which the striker is released. The additional electrical release mechanism (23) is configured to act in parallel with the electrical release mechanism (13) to provide an additional torque force to the gear (19).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of door latches for ensuring that vehicle doors are closed, and particularly to latches that include an electrically released mechanism. Background Technology

[0002] The present invention relates to a door latching device, which includes an electric release mechanism, also known as an E-release mechanism.

[0003] This type of electric release mechanism requires the doors to be opened under all conditions that the vehicle will face throughout its lifespan.

[0004] In particular, the vehicle can withstand low temperatures that can harden the seals, which makes it necessary to apply sufficient force to open the doors.

[0005] Therefore, the electric release mechanism needs to provide rapid opening while having sufficient force to open the door under all conditions.

[0006] Therefore, the objective of this invention is to provide a door latch device with an electric release mechanism that can open the door for a short period of time and also apply a sufficiently high force to open the door in all situations. Summary of the Invention

[0007] This invention relates to a vehicle door latch, comprising:

[0008] - Engaging mechanism, which is configured to engage with the firing pin.

[0009] - An electrically released mechanism comprising an electrically released motor having an output shaft and a worm gear arranged on the output shaft, the worm gear being configured to mesh with a gear, the gear being configured to actuate the engagement mechanism from a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position the striking pin is held by the engagement mechanism, and in the open position the striking pin is released.

[0010] The door latch includes an additional electric release mechanism, which includes an additional electric release motor. The additional electric release mechanism is configured to act in parallel with the electric release mechanism to provide additional torque force to the gear.

[0011] According to another aspect of the invention, the additional electric release mechanism includes a release mechanism or flywheel mechanism with angular degrees of freedom, such that the electric release mechanism can rotate the gear to actuate the engagement mechanism from the closed position to the open position without imposing mechanical constraints on the additional electric release motor.

[0012] According to another aspect of the invention, the electric release mechanism is configured to cause the gear to rotate at a first speed, and the additional electric release mechanism is configured to cause the gear to rotate at a second speed lower than the first speed.

[0013] According to another aspect of the invention, the additional torque force applied by the additional electric release mechanism to the gear of the electric release mechanism is higher than the torque force applied by the electric release mechanism to its gear.

[0014] According to another aspect of the invention, the release mechanism includes a first tooth and a second tooth, the first tooth being configured to mesh with a worm gear arranged on the output shaft of the additional electric release motor, and the second tooth being configured to mesh with a gear of the electric release mechanism, the first tooth being connected to the second tooth.

[0015] According to another aspect of the invention, the first gear includes a first gear and a second gear arranged coaxially with the first gear, the second gear including a rod configured to displace between a first stop and a second stop of the first gear to provide angular freedom between the first gear and the second gear, the second gear including a first tooth portion and a second tooth portion, the first tooth portion being configured to mesh with the second gear of the first gear, and the second tooth portion being configured to mesh with the gear of the electric release mechanism.

[0016] According to another aspect of the invention, the first stop and the second stop are spaced apart by an angle including a range of 90° and 180° (e.g., 120°) to provide angular degrees of freedom including a range of 90° and 180° (e.g., 120°).

[0017] According to another aspect of the invention, the additional electric release motor is configured to be activated when the electric release motor is activated.

[0018] According to another aspect of the invention, an additional electric release motor is configured to be activated when a fault is detected in the electric release mechanism.

[0019] The present invention also relates to a vehicle including the door latch as described above. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a door latch according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a side view of the electric release mechanism and the additional release mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a second perspective view of the electric release mechanism and the additional release mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 4 This is an enlarged view of the release mechanism;

[0024] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the release mechanism. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The following achievements are examples. Although the specification relates to one or more embodiments, it does not mean that every reference relates to the same embodiment or feature applies only to a single embodiment. Simple features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments.

[0026] The present invention relates to a door latch 1, which is configured to ensure the closure of a vehicle door, particularly a side door or trunk lid.

[0027] Appendix Figure 1 This represents an example of a door latch 1.

[0028] The door latch 1 includes an engagement mechanism 3 configured to engage a striker (not shown). The striker is disposed on the vehicle body next to the door and configured to be inserted into a recess 5 of the door latch 1 when the door is closed. The engagement mechanism 3 includes a pawl 7, which is at least partially disposed in the recess 5 and configured to move between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the striker is held within the recess by the pawl 7, and in the open position, the striker can be disengaged from the door latch 1. The engagement mechanism 3 also includes a pawl 9 configured to rotate between a blocking position (as shown in Figure 1) and a released position. In the blocking position, the pawl 9 blocks the rotation of the pawl 7, such that the striker is held by the pawl 7. In the released position, the pawl 9 allows the pawl 7 to rotate and thus releases the striker to open the door.

[0029] The engagement mechanism 3 also includes a driver 11 configured to engage with the pawl 9 to rotate the pawl 9 between its blocking position and its releasing position.

[0030] The door latch 1 also includes an electrically released mechanism 13. The door latch 1 may include an electrically released mechanism 13 in combination with a mechanical release mechanism (not shown) or may include only an electrically released mechanism 13.

[0031] The electric release mechanism 13 includes an electric release motor 15 having an output shaft 15a, such as Figure 2 As shown. The worm gear 17 is arranged on the output shaft 15a of the electrically released motor 15 and is configured to mesh with the gear 19. The gear 19 is configured to engage directly or indirectly with the driver 11 to actuate the engagement mechanism 3. In particular, the gear 19 can be configured to rotate the intermediate rod 21, which is configured to rotate the driver 11, such that the engagement mechanism 3 is in the released position.

[0032] Therefore, the rotation of the electric release motor 15 causes the gear 19 to rotate via the worm 17. The rotation of the gear 19 causes the intermediate rod 21 to rotate, and thus causes the drive 11 to rotate. The rotation of the drive 11 guides the pawl 9 to its release position and thus causes the firing pin to be released through the pawl 7. Other configurations of the electric release mechanism are also possible.

[0033] The door latching device 1 also includes an additional electric release mechanism 23, which is configured to operate in parallel with the electric release mechanism 13 to provide an additional torque force. This additional torque force may be necessary to open the door, for example, in the case of a frozen door seal.

[0034] The additional electric release mechanism 23 includes an additional electric release motor 25 having an output shaft 25a.

[0035] In the embodiment shown in the figure, the additional electric release mechanism 23 includes a release mechanism 31 disposed between the additional electric release motor 25 and the gear 19. The release mechanism 31 provides angular freedom, allowing the electric release mechanism 13 to rotate the gear 19 to actuate the engagement mechanism 3 from a closed position to an open position without imposing mechanical constraints on the additional electric release motor 25.

[0036] In this example, the release mechanism 31 includes a first axis 34 (by... Figure 5 The first gear 33 is located on the axis (represented by the axis in the diagram) and the second gear 36 is located on a different axis than the first axis 34 (by the axis in the diagram). Figure 5 The second tooth 35 is located on the axis (represented by the axis in the diagram), and the first tooth 33 is connected to the second tooth 35.

[0037] The release mechanism 31 includes a first gear 33a associated with a first gear 33 and configured to engage with a worm 27 arranged on the output shaft 25a of the additional electric release motor 25.

[0038] The release mechanism 31 also includes a second gear 33b associated with the first gear 33. The second gear 33b is arranged coaxially with the first gear 33a and includes a lever 39 (visible in Figure 3). The lever 39 is configured to engage the first stop 41 and the second stop 43 of the first gear 33a. Figure 4 (as can be seen in the image) shift between the first gear 33a and the second gear 33b to provide angular freedom between them.

[0039] The first gear 33 can be configured such that the lever 39 can rotate within an angular span between 90° and 180°, for example, 120°, which can result in a similar degree of angular freedom. The degree of angular freedom can be reduced depending on the angular width of the lever 39. The degree of angular freedom can be selected relative to the desired rotation of the gear 19 to place the engagement mechanism 3 in the open position.

[0040] The second tooth 35 includes a first tooth 35a and a second tooth 35b, the first tooth 35a being configured to mesh with a second gear 33b associated with the first tooth 33, and the second tooth 35b being configured to mesh with a gear 19 of the electric release mechanism 13.

[0041] Different tooth configurations and gear sizes (number of teeth) can be selected for the release mechanism, such that the electric release mechanism 13 rotates the gear 19 at a first speed, and the additional electric release mechanism 23 rotates the gear 19 at a second speed lower than the first speed. If the additional electric release motor 25 is similar to the electric release motor 15, the torque provided to the gear 19 by the additional electric release mechanism 23 can be higher than the torque provided by the electric release motor 15 (in fact, the additional electric release motor 25 can have reduced power relative to the electric release motor 15 (in order to limit energy consumption), but the release mechanism 31 can allow for a reduction in speed and an increase in the torque provided to the gear 19 by the additional electric release motor 25). Differences in rotational speed or torque can also be achieved using an additional electric release motor 25 that is different from the electric release motor 15.

[0042] With this configuration, the electric release mechanism 13 enables the door latch 1 to open quickly under normal conditions due to the high speed transmitted to the gear 19, and the additional electric release mechanism 23 enables it to open under severe or abnormal conditions due to the additional torque provided to the gear 19. Even if the door latch 1 opens more slowly than normal, it can be opened without user assistance, improving user comfort without requiring an excessively large electric release motor 15.

[0043] Furthermore, the compact design of the additional electric release motor 25 and the release mechanism 31 limits the size of the door latch 1.

[0044] Other configurations of the release mechanism 31 that provide angular degrees of freedom are also possible. Alternatively, a release mechanism 31 based on a freewheel (not shown) can be used instead of the release mechanism 31 with angular degrees of freedom. The freewheel is then configured such that the additional electric release mechanism 23 can transmit torque to the gear 19, but not conversely, such that no mechanical constraint can be applied to the additional electric release motor 25 through the electric release mechanism 13.

[0045] According to a particular embodiment, the auxiliary electric release motor 25 is configured to be activated when the electric release motor 15 is activated, for example, when a user presses a button or pulls a handle to open a door. Both motors are activated simultaneously. However, since the electric release motor 15 is configured to cause the gear 19 to rotate at a higher speed than the auxiliary electric release motor 25, during the initial time span, the gear is driven by the rotation of the sole electric release motor 15. Due to the release mechanism, the auxiliary electric release mechanism 23 does not interfere with the electric release motor 15's drive of the gear 19.

[0046] If the torque provided by the electric release motor 15 is sufficient to open the door latch 1, then even if the auxiliary electric release motor 25 is also activated, the door latch 1 will be opened by the sole electric release motor 15. After the door latch 1 is opened, both the electric release motor 15 and the auxiliary electric release motor 25 are deactivated.

[0047] If the torque provided by the electric release motor 15 is insufficient to open the door latch 1, for example due to a frozen door seal, after a short period of time, the auxiliary electric release motor 25 has rotated the first gear sufficiently to make the lever 39 contact one of the stops 41 or 43. The auxiliary electric release motor 25 then provides additional torque to the gear 19 via the release mechanism 31, which enables the door latch 1 to be opened. After the door latch 1 is opened, both the electric release motor 15 and the auxiliary electric release motor 25 are deactivated.

[0048] Therefore, in this particular embodiment, both the electric release motor 15 and the auxiliary electric release motor 25 are activated at the start of the opening process, but in most cases, only the electric release motor 15 can be used to open the door latch 1.

[0049] According to another embodiment, only the electric release motor 15 is activated when the user presses a button or pulls a handle to open the door. An auxiliary electric release motor 25 is configured to be activated only when a fault is detected in the electric release mechanism 13. This fault could correspond to blockage of the electric release motor 15 due to door resistance, such as due to a frozen seal. When such a fault is detected, the auxiliary electric release motor 25 is activated to provide additional torque to the gears to open the door latch 1. Using this embodiment, the time required to open the door under adverse conditions (frozen seals, etc.) is longer, but energy consumption is reduced because the auxiliary electric release motor 25 is activated only when needed.

[0050] Therefore, the use of the electric release motor 15 and the auxiliary electric release motor 25 enables the door latch 1 to be opened quickly under normal conditions, thus opening the door quickly, and the door latch to be opened more slowly under adverse conditions, allowing the door to be opened in most situations without user assistance. Furthermore, the auxiliary electric release motor can have low power consumption due to the release mechanism, which is capable of achieving high torque due to the gear mechanism. Power consumption can be further reduced if the auxiliary electric release motor 25 is activated only when needed (which would result in a longer opening duration). Moreover, due to the small size of the auxiliary electric release motor 25 and the release mechanism 31, this feature hardly increases the volume of the door latch 1.

[0051] The present invention also relates to a vehicle including the door latch 1 as described above.

Claims

1. A door latch (1), comprising: - Engaging mechanism (3), which is configured to engage with the firing pin. - An electric release mechanism (13) includes an electric release motor (15) having an output shaft (15a) and a worm (17) arranged on the output shaft (15a), the worm (17) being configured to mesh with a gear (19), the gear (19) being configured to actuate the engagement mechanism (3) from a closed position and an open position, in which the striking pin is held by the engagement mechanism (3) and in the open position, the striking pin is released. The door latch (1) includes an additional electric release mechanism (23), which includes an additional electric release motor (25). The additional electric release mechanism (23) is configured to act in parallel with the electric release mechanism (13) to provide additional torque force to the gear (19).

2. The door latch (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein, The additional electric release mechanism (23) includes a release mechanism (31) or flywheel mechanism with angular degrees of freedom, such that the electric release mechanism (23) can rotate the gear (19) to actuate the engagement mechanism (3) from the closed position to the open position without imposing mechanical constraints on the additional electric release motor (25).

3. The door latch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The electric release mechanism (13) is configured to rotate the gear (19) at a first speed, and the additional electric release mechanism (23) is configured to rotate the gear (19) at a second speed lower than the first speed.

4. The door latch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The additional torque force applied by the additional electric release mechanism (23) to the gear (19) of the electric release mechanism (13) is higher than the torque force applied by the electric release mechanism (13) to the gear (19) of the electric release mechanism (13).

5. The door latch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The release mechanism (31) includes a first tooth (33) and a second tooth (35), the first tooth (33) being configured to mesh with a worm (27) arranged on the output shaft (25a) of the additional electric release motor (25), and the second tooth (35) being configured to mesh with the gear (19) of the electric release mechanism (13), the first tooth (33) being connected to the second tooth (35).

6. The door latch (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein, The first gear (33) includes a first gear (33a) and a second gear (33b) coaxially arranged with the first gear (33a). The second gear (33b) includes a rod (39) configured to shift between a first stop (41) and a second stop (43) of the first gear (33a) to provide angular freedom between the first gear (33a) and the second gear (33b). The second gear (35) includes a first tooth (35a) and a second tooth (35b). The first tooth (35a) is configured to mesh with the second gear (33b) of the first gear (33), and the second tooth (35b) is configured to mesh with the gear (19) of the electric release mechanism (13).

7. The door latch (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein, The first stop (41) and the second stop (43) are spaced apart by an angle, for example, 120°, that is in the range between 90° and 180°, to provide an angular degree of freedom, for example, 120°, that is in the range between 90° and 180°.

8. The door latch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The additional electric release motor (25) is configured to be actuated when the electric release motor (15) is actuated.

9. The door latch (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The additional electric release motor (25) is configured to be actuated when a fault is detected in the electric release mechanism (13).

10. A vehicle comprising a door latch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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